Celeb mom
YOUR BABY FOR TAKING CHILDREN SHOPPING
Author and parenting expert Nikki Bush on shopping with kids
1 AVOID RUSH HOUR Bush, any time after – 5pm Accordingwould be to their incrediblytots. difficult for both parents and 2 MAKE SHOPPING AN OUTING AFTER NAPTIME – when children are refreshed they are much more relaxed and responsive to the experience. 3 WORK THE VISIT TO THE SHOPS INTO YOUR CHILD’S NORMAL ROUTINE – your child will be more manageable and responsive to the experience. 4 NEVER TAKE A HUNGRY CHILD SHOPPING – this will likely result in delaying the experience until after you have found a place to feed them. 5 ALWAYS KEEP SOMETHING TO EAT AND DRINK ON HAND – this is to avoid situations where you succumb to buying fizzy, sugar-laden drinks. 6 HUNT IN PAIRS WHERE POSSIBLE – this makes the experience a lot easier to handle, particularly when you have more than one child. 7 PLAN YOUR OUTING STRATEGICALLY SO THAT YOU ARE IN THE RIGHT
PLACE AT THE RIGHT TIME – if you do this, you will avoid wasting time going back and forth in a shopping centre and be purposeful in your mission. 8 TAKE A BREAK IF IT’S A MARATHON SHOP – breaks are important as they allow for children to refresh and handle the experience better. 9 SET THE SCENE/RULES/BOUNDARIES BEFORE YOU ARRIVE – giving your children a breakdown of what they can expect allows them to behave in the best way possible. 10 BE THE BOSS – guide your children through the experience, engage with them so that they feel comfortable and confident, knowing you are in control.